What should a Frenchman do if he is arrested abroad?

If you are arrested abroad and you are a French national, you can benefit from the assistance of the French consular authorities.

To do so, you must ask to contact the consulate of France responsible for the foreigner country concerned.

The consulate can direct you to the resources that will allow you to choose a lawyer, if possible francophone, to ensure your defense.

The consulate does not pay the lawyer's fees. They are at your expense (or at the expense of your loved ones).

Some countries offer a legal aid system to help you pay legal fees (e.g. lawyers' fees).

To find out if such a system exists in the country in which you are located, you should contact the local judicial authorities.

If you are tried abroad, you will face the penalty provided for by the law of the country in which you are located.

If you are sentenced to prison, you will normally be detained in the country that made the decision.

Your relatives who have remained in France can contact the Sub-Directorate for the Protection of Human Rights of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This service can provide information on how to assist a person arrested abroad.